Gillingham manager Martin Allen says every day spent at the top of the League 2 table feels like Christmas Day

13 November 2012

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Martin Allen has spoken of his delight at being top of the League 2 table, comparing each day at the summit to Christmas Day.

Allen, pictured, said: "I’ve never been top of the league, never, so it’s new to me and every day for me is like Christmas Day.

"It is magical. I have waited a long time and I have worked hard to get an opportunity like this that Gillingham have given me and it is amazing."

Allen, speaking to the press before the weekend, doesn’t see his side’s form dipping this season. He also revealed the moment his, and the club’s, hopes changed with an influx of money.

"We won’t have a bad run; that won’t happen," he said. "(The chairman) Mr Scally has allowed us to bring in more players since (Paulo) Gazzaniga was sold to Southampton and Matt Jarvis went to West Ham.

"I was having dinner with the chairman that night the deal went through. We were looking at the menu, thinking about having sausage and mash, and then we heard the deal had gone through for Jarvis and we all started looking at the king prawns and fillet steaks. It was like ch-ching.

"I can’t imagine what it is like to have someone ringing me and saying you’ve just banked £1.5million and the chairman has let us spend (some of) it. He has brought these players together and we’ve got young players, Callum Davies, Bradley Dack and I took a gamble on Charlie Allen. The three lads have been amazing.

"We’re now reviewing the development squad. We’re looking at the under-16s and the youth team. People have talked about me wanting to go and leaving this club but I promised Mr Scally that I would see this through with him."